Rotary drilling rig



April 20,1943. J, E, SMITH 2,317,306

ROTARY DRILLING RIG April 20, 1943. J. E. sMl'rH l ROTARY DRLLING RIG Filed June 22, 1940 'T Sheets-Shea?l 2 April 20, 1943. J. E. SMITH ROTARY DRILLING RIG Filed June 22, 1940 v'7 sheets-sheet 4 Awal/17,1171! April 20, 1943. J. E. SMITH ROTARY DRILLING RIG Filed June 22, 1940 www @gli im@ 7 Sheets-Shea#-l 6 QQQQQQQQ.

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pnl Z0, 1943. J. E. sMrH l 2,317,306

' ROTARY DRILLING RIG Filed June 22, 1940 '7 Sheejzs-Sheeil 7 12e ,E 93a it figg 2i[ i n T if@ 1 l 155;? V@ l I @15 i i?! l @C o l @i (d i s @L El;

Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE ROTARY BILLING me James E. Smith, Pittsburg, Tex. Application June 22, 1940, serial No. 341,868

9 Claims.

My invention relates to a rotary drilling rig, for drilling oil wells, which is hydraulically operated and adapted to conserve time and labor as well as cost of operation and wherein the weight of the drill pipe will be carried by the hydraulic cylinders and hence the use of the usual draw works, draw works engine, the traveling and crown block, etc. will be eliminated and constant proper control of the drill pipe provided and the possibility of drilling an improper or crooked hole prevented.

The invention contemplates a metal derrick composed of lower and upper sections which are hingedly connected andprovided with hydraulic lifting cylinders, preferably of diierent capacities and having telescopically arranged cylinder extensions and sleeves provided with plungers which are operatively connected with the sleeves and are actuated by the pistons of the cylinders; the sleeves being connected with a table housing containing the drill pipe rotating means and pipe holding slips; the table housing being vertically movable in the lower derrick section inv which hydraulically operated pipe wrenches are also mounted; while the upper section is provided with the pipe positioning and racking or crane mechanism'.

The invention contemplates a plurality of hydraulic cylinders of dierent capacities, with certain of the cylinders, in order to conserve power, taking care of the tare load of the vertically movable table housing, acting as counterbalancing cylinders, while the other cylinders control the drill pipe and may be brought into action in separate pairs as the pipe load or depth of the well increases and vice versa. l

The invention also contemplates a speciallyr designed swivel connection, carried by the movable table housing, and connected' with the drilling mud supply line which consists of a suitable sized pipe which materially reduces the mud friction encountered in the smaller rubber hose at present employed and hence reduces the pump load as well as the maintenance cost; the swivel connection, however, not being required to carry the weight of the drill pipe load which is transferred to the table housing and its large bearings.

My invention also involves hydraulically operated wrenches movably mounted in the lower part of the rig whereby the making up and breaking out of pipe joints is accomplished; the wrench mechanism being vertically movable by a suitable lift so as to be positioned adjacent the upper end of the drill pipe and adjacent the lower end oi the pipe section to be added, or removed, and thus eliminates the necessity of hoisting the drill pipe oil bottom as is the case when a Kelly joint is used. This not only saves time, but when coring, no interruption or joint changing is needed.

My invention further contemplates the use of a iiuid motor or turbine for rotating the drill pipe and hence provides a resilient powerv which tends to prevent crystallization of the drill pipe, as, however, is the case with the present type of rotaries.

The various features and objects and the advantages of my invention Will all be readily comprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved drilling rig with intermediate portions broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure l is a sectionalview taken on the offset line l-t of Figure 3, with intermediate portions broken away Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the turbine.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line S-B of Figure 4 and illustrating' they wrench mechanism.

Figure 'I is a cross section of the wrench mechanism taken on the oset line 'l-- of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the gripper elements of the Wrench mechanism.

Figure 9 is a sectional detail of the pipe con-- trol head.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view taken on the line lll-I0 of Figure 3.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view of a cylinder brake mechanism shown at the, right in Figure 4,; the view being takensubstantially at the hand end of line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 12 is a plan view of one of the hydraulically operated pipe slips with portions shown in section.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on the line I3--I3 of Figure 12 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view of the cam slotted shells shown at the top in Figure 13 with the inner elements omitted.

Figure 15 is a plan view of the rig.

.n Figure 16 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of the rig shown in Figure 15. Y

. -with pressure tank 4i (seeAFigure 2). The small cylinders 32h are employed to overcome the tare weight of the table housing 3l and its movable the drawings, comprises a derrick consisting of a suitable number oi uprights or legs l30 laterally spacedapart and arranged in a somewhat circu- V. lar relation, as disclosedlin Figures 3 and 6, and tied together by suitable bracing and transversely disposedplates of somewhat U-shape as shown at 33see Figures .1 and 3, arranged at predetermined .points throughout the height ofthe derrick. The den'ick is provided with a suitable base or platform `indicated at 33b arranged a distance above the ground and the bottom of the derrick is provided with a suitable spider at 30 which is disposed above the hole or well .being drilled.

v 'I'he derrickfis provided with a vertically movable table housing 3i and with a plurality of vertically disposed hydraulicl cylinders at 32 which rest on and are secured to the derrick base. The cylinders 32 at the upper ends are formed to receive the cylinder extensions 32 which extend to the top oi the derrick and are suitably secured to the bracing plates 30* by nanges 33, see Figure 3. Cylinders 32 are provided with pistons or plungers 34 provided at their bottoms with plunger-heads 35; the plungers 34 (which are of considerable length) are adapted to extend into the cylinder extensions 32" when made to travel upwardly; and the cylinder extensions are lengthwisely slotted on the sides disposed toward the center oi the derrick for passage of the ribs 33 whereby the plungers 134 are operatively connected with the upp'er ends of the outer shells or sleeves 31, thus causing the sleeves 31 to slide lengthwisely of the cylinder 32 and the cylinder A extensions 32 when the plungers 34 o1' the cylinders and their extensions are actuated by the power medium in cylinders 32. 'I'he sides of the connections and ac't in the nature oi a. counterbalance. Water is preferably used as the pressure medium for the cylinders; the iluid in tanks 33 and 4| being placed under pressure by means of a suitable pump, connected at 42 (Figure 2).

The slush pump on the rig kwill not be in operation during the changing of the pipe, namely when the pipe is being withdrawn, consequently it can be flushed clean of mud and can be used to pump clean water into the hydraulic system of this rig-or a separate clear water pump could be used to supply the necessary iluid pressure.

I'hesupplylines for the cylinders are preferably provided with a safety control consisting oi' a lever 43 connected with valve 44; the lever 43 being connected with a link 45 `'which is connected to the bottom of a vertically disposed rod 43 which passes through a square or non-circular opening in lobe 3i secured totable housing 3i (see Figure 2) the rod 43 is pivotally supported at its topand bottom on the derrick frame and the rod adjacentits upper end and lower end is provided with twists or spirals 46' (Figure '1) which cause the rod to twist or turn when the lobe 3lb of the housing 3i engages the spiral por-.

tions adjacent the upper 'and the lower ends of rod 46.

The rotation of the rod 46 actuates link 45,

llever 43 thereby'either closing or opening valve dium supply to the counterbalance cylinder 32h sleeves 31 disposed toward the frame-work of the 'derrick are slotted lengthwisely for passageof the nanges 33-whereby the cylinder extensions sleeves 31 to move vertically.

The table housing 3l is preferably provided with upstanding cylindrical bosses 3 I'L (see Figure 4) in which the lower ends oi*l the sleeves 31 are secured so that the table housing 3| is raised or nection with the plungersv 34, are-v made to slide up or down on the cylinders 32 and the cylinder extensions 32; it being understood Vthat the plungers of all cylinders are connected to their outer sleeves (six cylinders being shownin Figures 3 jand 5) and the cylinders preferably arranged 32` are maintained in place-thus permitting the ilowing through pipe 43 is valso automatically controlled by valve 53 whose lever, by means of link 5I, is connected with link 45 and hence'the ilow of pressure medium to all cylinders is auto- Y matically controlled during the travel oi' the table housing 3 I The housing 3| is provided with a fluid oper- I ated turbine 52 arranged beneath the cover plate 5 3 with a central vopening for receiving the ldrill pipe controlling mechanism and the drilling iluid. The uid for driving. the turbine is introduced by pipe 54, leading from a source of pressure supply and theuidftake-oi from the turbine is shown at 55 (see vFigure 5). Theiluidor drilling mud employed in .the arming opera- `lowered as the sleeves 31, by reason of their con- A by-a spring. 51 r.

tion is conveyed by means of line 56 (whichfis preferably provldedwith afswinging j ointfBB) Y to a swivel Aconnection 51'mounted in the'houslng alan@ rotated bythe-'turbine-sz. a

T he swivel connection-L. 51, is preferably pro- -v videdwith a' non-circular top'and with a'coneshape lower-fend 3513,95"

-5A and is lockedlto theA otori52 by means of -slidhown v'in' Figures- 4 and which screws intoffthe end orme drlll-fnipegn itsA 4spindle ,portionA 513:

nndrical sleeve; pertioxiswmch'encircle the slidltion 51d having?. 'tapered thrifded portic'in'ifv ormed u this bracing 53 holds all of the sleeves 31 in proper alignment and moves vertically vwith the sleeves 31.

'I'he turbine 52 is rotatably supported on the base of the table housing 3| by antifriction bearings shown at 6I; and the base of housing 3| is shown provided with an annular baille 32 which extends into an annular slot in the lower side of the turbine; the baille B2 being disposed intermediate of the bearings 6I and the central hole in the bottom of the housing 3| to prevent passage ofV the lubricating o il into the hole of the housing.

'Ihe bottom of the derrick, namely in the spider 30, (Figure 1) and the movable table housing 3| are provided with hydraulically operated slips, (Figures 12, 13 and 14) which are identical in construction and operation, whereby the drill pipe and drill pipe sections are firmly held in position against movement; the slips in the spiderat the bottom of the derrick being intended to hold the drill pipe in the well, when the slips in the table are not in pipe gripping position, namely while the pipe joints are being made or broken, while the upper slips in the housing hold thepipe section when the pipe is being lifted or lowered into the well; the upper slips merely being employed at the time mentioned.

One set of these slips is shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14 and consists of segmental cone-shape elements or blocks 63 arranged in an annular manner as shown in Figure 12 and adapted to fitI into the cone-shaped bushing 64 arranged in rotor 52, which constitutes a support for the swivel connection 51, as shown in Figure 4.

, The segmental blocks t3 are each controlled by a link 65; the upper ends of the links being pivotally conected with a ring 55 which is rotatable in member G1 which is of C-shape or channel formation in cross-section, see Figure 13, and is provided with trunnions 68 at opposite' sides; member 61 being adapted to move upwardly and downwardly. The trunnions 68 extend through the oppositely disposed ogee slots 59 formed in the concentrically arranged cylindrical shells 16, 1| which have rotative relation with each other and are rotatably mounted on the table housing cover plate 53; the slots 69 in the inner shell 1@ being disposed upwardly in one direction while the slots 69 in the outer shell 1| are disposed upwardly in the opposite direction, with the upper ends of the slots given a slight drop so that when the trunnions 6B reach the extreme upper ends of the slots the shells 10, 1l will be held against rotative movement untilextra rotative power has been applied to release the trunnions from this safety lock position. The shell 1|, in Figure 12, is shown provided with an ear or lobe 1 |a to which the plunger 12 of hydraulically operated cylinder i3 is secured; the cylinder being horizontally disposed and mounted on the housing cover plate 53; the cylinder is preferably of the double acting type so as to rotate the shell 1| in opposite directions.

As is apparent from the construction illustrated in Figure 14, rotation of the shells in opposite directions will/cause the trunnions 68 to ride upwardly as the upper ends of the oppositely disposed slots come into registering relation and thus induce members 68, 61 to move upwardly in shell 10 and thereby lift the slip blocks -63 (through the medium lof links 65) out of the coneshape bushing 34 and-hence out of holding engagement with the pipe shown at 58; while rotative movement of the' shells in the opposite derrick underneath the table housing 3|.

direction will cause the lower ends of the ogee slots in the two shells to be brought into register with each other and consequently induce the trunnions 88 to travel downwardly and cause the slip blocks 83 to move into pipe wedging relation. It will be understood that when a section of pipe is to be added to the drill pipe, the slips in the spider at the bottom of the derrick (not shown but identical with the construction described) are forced into gripping engagement* with the exposed portion oi the drill pipe. At this time the swivel connection 61 is disconnected from the drill pipe 58 andthe'table housing 3| with swivel connection 31 raised sufficiently to permit the pipe section to be'positioned in the The pipe section is then screwed to the drill pipe 53, the table housing is then jlowered until the threaded portion 519 of the swivel connection can be screwed into the upper end of the pipe section just added as shown in Figure 4; the slip mechanism in the housing 3| being merely employed when the entire drill stem is removed from or lowered into the well, as for example when the drill is to be replaced. After the housing with the swivel connection 51 has been lowered as stated, the added section is then screwed to the drill pipe by suitable wrench mechanism now to be described. The hydraulically operated pipe slip mechanism described is used when lowering or raising drill pipe and is not in use dur ing drilling operation but is replaced by the swivel connection 5l heretofore described.

The wrench mechanism is mounted at the base of the rig beneath the table housing as shown in Figures 4 and 6 and consists of suitable vertically spaced housings one above the other generally indicated at llt, 14a; the horizontal positions or elevations being controlled by plunger 15 of a hydraulic cylinder 15. The housings l, 15B are elongated and extend transversely toward one side of the derrick as shown in Figure 6 and the outer ends apertured for passage of a non-circular vertically disposed shaft 11 which is rotated by means of a fluid motor 'l (see Figure l); the housings, however, being slidably connected with shaft 11 to permit the raising and lowering of the1 housings with the contained wrench mechanisms.

The outer end of housing 16 is provided with a small sprocket 19 which has a non-circular hole for passage of the shaft 11 therethrough and is adapted to be driven by shaft 11. The sprocket 19 drives an endless sprocket chain 80 which in turn drives the large sprocket Bl which .is disposed about and is secured to the cam members or castings 82 provided with arcuate grooves 83 i see Figure 6) and these grooves receive the pins t@ arranged at the outer ends of the pipe grinping elements 85, preferably composed of steel I blocks as shown in Figure 8; the elements 85 being slidably mounted and controlled by a pair of concentrically arranged steel rings 86, 81 between which suitable oil packing is placed. The

steel rings 86, 81 are secured at top to plate 88:-

with the upper pipe section Il, I provide a brake for the top:` plate 8l. consisting of a small hydraulic cyliniiet` 9| (see Figure 7) provided with a brake-shoe plunger 9|' which is adapted to engage the perimeter of plate 8l and to hold the latter against` rotative movement until the elements 8l have been brought into pipe gripping position, at which time the brake will be released i and plate I8 permitted to move with the lower plate. I prefer to employ a pair of cam members 42 in each wrench; one cam member being provided with the cam grooves 83 on its upper face, while the other member has' the cam grooves Il on its lower face, at which time the gripper blocks Il are reversed so that the pins 44 are disposed upwardlyl into the cam grooves 83, as shown in Figure 7, thus positioning the gripper blocks in diiferent horizontal planes and avoiding pressure on the drill pipe being exerted in the same plane.

In order to return the top plate I8 and rings i l1 to normal position, and hence to retract the elements 85, after the driving power on the sprocket chain l has been released. I show the top plate ls provided with smell lugs w operatively engaged by springs 92 (Figures 6 and 7).

The gripper blocks 85 at their inner ends are concaved and provided with a pair oi' semi-circular sockets, extending from top to bottom of each block or element, to receive the cylindrical steel bars or rods provided with exposed serrated surfaces, see Figure 8; the gripping bars or rods which are endwisely inserted in their sockets are rotatably heid in place by plates secured to the top and bottom faces of the gripper blocks; the spherical socket connection between the serrated rods and the gripper blocks compensate for diiferences in pipe diameter.

In order to aid motor 18 either in screwing up the pipe sections to obtain a tight point or in breaking or unscrewing Vtight joints ybetween the pipe sections when thelatter are being withdrawn, I provide an auxiliary hydraulicrcylinder Il whose rear end is pivotally mounted in the wrench housing 14 to permit the cylinder to swing toward opposite sides -of the housing; the

cylinder 93. being provided with a plunger 94 whose outer end terminates in oppositely. disposed hook-like fingers which are adapted to enter the links of the sprocket chain 8U." The v cylinder 93 is preferably operated by oil under pressure; the cylinder 93 being supplied with the pressure medium bytube $5" connected withpa source of pressure medium. Cylinder 93 is shown swung to the left in Figure 6 with plunger 84 in asiatico housing during the normal screwing or unscrewing operations of the top wrench mechanism.

'I'he upper wrench mechanism just described is intended to rotate the upper pipe section 58 either during addition or withdrawal of pipe sections to the drill pipe therebeneath.

During the screwing and unscrewing operations it is. of course, necessary to firmly hold the drill pipe against rotation which is accomplished by the bottom wrench mechanism mounted in the housing 14* which is supported in spaced relation with the upper wrench housing 14 by a nut. 00 on the threaded upper end of plunger of cylinder 14, see Figure '1.

The bottom wrench housing is anchored on drive shaft 11 by bushing 01 loosely slidable onl shaft 11 and rotatable in housing 14'. 'I'he bottom wrench mechanism is substantially similar to the upper wrench mechanism insofar as the cam castings 82 and gripper blocks are concerned, but is not provided with sprocket 8l and sprocket chain Il. The housing 14"has a rotatable top plate to which the rings ll, I1 are secured and top plete n ie provided with e laterally disposed f lug DI controlled by the pistons of the hydraulically operated cylindersl |00 arrangedA on opposite sides of the lug 89 and secured to the housing 14". Outward movement of the .piston of one cylinder ill causes plate ll to rotate in a direction which causes gripper blocks 85 (which are similar to those previously described) to move into pipe gripping position, while outward movement of the plunger of the other cylinder rotates the plate in a direction which induces retraction of the gripper blocksv I! (see Figure 6).

In practice, after the wrench mechanism I been elevated toposition bythe plunger "of through the openings in the top and bottom plates cylinder 14 where the upper wrench is coincident with the lower end of the upper pipe section or thribble and the lower wrench is coincident with the upper end of the drill pipe or pipe in the well,

the lower wrench is then placed in gripping relation with the drill pipe or lower'pipesection be-` fore the upper'wrench is rotated in order that the twisting strains be not rtransmitted to the lower or drill pipe section. The wrench mechanism during drilling operation is lowered to the bottom of the rig with the drill pipe disposed of the wrench mechanism but with the gripper blocks retracted. 1

The hydraulic cylinders and :duid motors heretoforeV described, viz.='the cylinders li'or operating engagement with the sprocket chain 8l and exerting a pushing forceion the chain toward'thel large sprocket wheel. 8l', which causes the chain to move in counterclockwise direction and hence in pipe unscrewing direction; thus assisting motor Il and avoiding excessive strains on shaft 11 during initial unscrewing when greater .power iszref quired. yIn the event additional power is needed for effecting a tight joint when a pipe section is beingadded to the drill pipe beneath, cylinderV Slis'swungtoward the right in Figure -plunger 04 having been retractede-'and thefadjacent iinger of plunger I4 i'splacedin'to engagement with the portion of the sprocket chain Il "at .the right hand side of the wrenchhousing 14, thus causing plunger I4, Vto'. exert a pushingforce on chain Il toward large'sprocket Il `in clockwise or screwl `ing direction. It wlllbe understood that cylinder. is moved 'to an intermediate position in the the pipe slips and wrenches are all. preferably operated by oil froma common source of oil under pressure. t

In Figures 15 to 20, I illustrate thecrane mech- .anismfor positioning the. pipe sections or thrib- Y. bles .tobeadded tothe drill pipe andv for racking i the sections or thrlbblesv thatv have been unscrewed from-the drill pipe. o

toothed perimeterbf a gear II! extends; the gear IIIl being secured to;shaft IllA to rotate therewith. in meshes withthe internal teeth of asprocket wheel Ill-which drives the traveling pipe carrying lcrane il4'(seeligure 19) `'through the medlum'of-'sprocketchain Ill; the crane;il4

rides on a frame |06 suitably supported on the derrick and disposed about thc upper part of the derrick, as shown in Figure 15.. Sprocket |03 is rotatably supported in place by a suitable collar on the leg 30, as shown at |01 in Figure 1'1; and this leg 30 at a predetermined distance beneath sprocket |03 is provided with a second sprocket |08 which also has internal teeth with which gear |02 is intended to mesh when shaft I 0 is lowered; the slot or opening in the leg 30 permitting gear |02 to move downwardly into mesh with the internally toothed sprocket |08.

Sprocket |08 controls an endless chain |09 which merely travels in a direction transversely of the derrick andis connected as at |09a (Figure 16) with the crane carrying frame or track |06, which is slidably mounted on the supporting frame ||0, and shifts the track |03toward and away from the vertical median line of the derrick; chain |09 travels beneath chain |05 about sprockets located at (the sprocket for chain |09 being beneath the sprocket for the upper chain) and ||2 in Figure 15; while upper chain travels about a sprocket locatedI at ill,

lsprockets at ||3 and a sprocket at H4; the upper sprocket at for chain |05, sprockets ||3 and sprocket I Il are secured to the movable frame or track |08.

As previously described, gear |02 is merely brought to register with internally toothed sprocket |08 when it is desired to move the upper frame or track |06 across the top of the pipe holding racks ||5 arranged at the side of the derrick so as to position the pipe carrying means (to be described) above the respective rows of up-ended pipe sections shown at 58.

The crane |04 is provided with depending rods or supporting bars H6, `||6 provided at their lower ends with a tie plate ||1, while the upper ends of the rods each have a gripper wing H0, ||3 slidingly and rotatably mounted thereon; the wings being yieldingly supported and moved to open or normal position by light springs H9 coiled about the supporting rodsV IIB; the wings being preferably of comparative'width and their inner faces provided with serrations or pipe gripping surfaces,

Mounted between the rods or bars ||6 and suitably secured thereto is a vertically disposed hydraulic cylinder |20 provided with a piston |2| whose upper end has a substantially annular pipe gripping position. Wing ||8 normally opens outwardly to a greater extent so as to engage a pipe section slightly in advance of inside wing ||3a especially when removing a pipe section from the rack, thus enabling the wing ||9 to move between adjacently placed pipe sections before wing ||0a is in complete contact with the pipe section which would prevent proper closing movement of the wings. After the pipe sectionv has been removed from the gripper wings, the trip valve is returned 'to closed position by suitable means, as for example by a coiled springs |25, see Figure 21.

In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 9, I illustrate the pipe controlling and positioning mechanism whereby the pipe sections, brought from-the rack'by the traveling crane and its gripper mechanism, will be vertically centered with the well or drill pipe; or the respective pipe sections after having been unscrewed may be swung away from the derrick center and into the path of the gripper mechanism carried by the crane and thereby placed in the pipe rack.

4A pair Lof pipe controlling and positioning mechanisms are preferably employed with one ofthe mechanisms arranged adjacent the upper end of the derrick and above the path of the traveling crane and the other located adjacent the lower end of the derrick.

The controlling mechanism at the upper end of th derrick consists of an arm `|26 whose one end is swiveled in a block |21 (see Figure 10);

arm |26 and block |21 being vertically slidable von the vertically disposed square rod- |28. Block |21 has a tapped hole to receive the threaded upper end of a vertically disposed screw-rod |29 which also extends to the bottom of the derrick and is pivotally supported at its top and bottom on suitable supporting brackets secured to the derrick; the screw-rod |29 may be controlled or rotated by` a suitable two-way fluid motor. Rotation of screw-rod |29 causes the block |21 and the arm |26 to travel vertically and to slide lengthwisely of the square or non-circular rod |28, to properly position the pipe positioning mechanism, and the arms of both upper and lower control mechanisms may then be manually v swung horizontally toward or away from the v vertical center of the derrick.

|23 arranged in a pressure medium supply line |24; the valve also communicates with one end of the cylinder |20 and is provided with trlpper or'actuating arm |25 preferably provided with a forked outer end, as shown in Figure 20.

When the pipe carrying crane has been positioned where the tripper arm 25 comes into contact with a section of pipe, valve |23 willbe opened and pressure fluid admitted to cylinder |20, causing its piston |2| and the hood |22 to be forced upwardly about the gripper wings I8, ||8s with the wings disposed through the cut-out |22'i in the hood. As the hood |22 moves-'upwardly the wings ||8, H8* will be forced toward each other, by the wedge shaped cut-out, into Screw-rod |29 is enclosed in a substantially cylindrical shell |30 (open on one side for passage of block ,|21 therethrough) which is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to an adjacent leg 30 of the derrick, namely to the foremost leg at the left of the derrick as viewed in Figures 1, 2 and 3; andl because of the length of screw-rod |29, it is preferably braced or rotatably secured to the shell |30 by'suitable collars as at |3l; block |21 at its rear side being vertically slotted to permit the block to travel past the collar connection with the outer shell. |30; while the open side of the outer shell |30 is preferably provided with leather aprons or flaps |30a (see Figure 3) to prevent entrance of mud and dirt to the screw-rod |29; the free edges of the aprons being in lapping relation to permit passage of the block |21.

The outer end of upper arm |26 has a domeshaped head |32 (consisting of an upper and a lower portion which are screwed together) swiveled thereon by means of a trunnion or pin |33 secured to the head and disposed through an opening in the end wall of arm |26; the outer end of the pin |33 being threaded and provided with a nut |33 (Figure 9); the connection beelevated tween head |32 and the arm |26 permits thel head to swing transversely of the arm.

'I'he dome-shaped head |32 terminates at top inan upwardly disposed'cylinder portion |32` Y (see Figure 9) connectedv at top with a pressure fluid supply line |34; and cylinder portion |32* receives the plunger portion of a reciprocatingly mounted member |35. 'I'he mouth of member |35 is provided with-a pluralityof annularlyv arranged serrated fingers |36 which are pivotally secured adjacent their lower ends projecting namely at |31, withv their lower ends projecting beyond the pivot points, while the upper ends of fingers |36 are norm-ally forced inwardly by meansof springs |33. p

The projecting .lower ends of the fingers |35 extend into the path of and are contolled by the cam surface |33 formed at the lower open end of head |32; the cam surface or portion |33 being' providedv with an upwardly disposed annular extension |33a which `enters a vertical slot |35* formed in the bell-shaped'wall ofl member |35 and properly guides member |35 in its reciproforce the upper ends of nngers into gripping relation with the` uper end of an 11p-ended pipe section. The arm. |26 is then swung about its pivotal connection with block |21 until the head 32 with the depending pipe section has either been swung into vertical alignment with the central opening in the table housing, as shown in Figure 1 l(if. the pipe section is to be added tothe drill pipe), or Vhas been swung outwardly into.

proximity with the -pathof the traveling crane and its pipe grasping mechanism previously described, as, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 15- (if the pipe sectionihas been unscrewed from the drill pipe and is to be p la'ced in the' pipe rack).

YAfter thearm |25 with'head" |32 has been brought tothe desired .positionwhere thepipe section is to be released, the pressure medium to chamber |40 is shut ofi-andfallowed tol now the ground and either positioned for screwing onto the drillpipe or to be placed inthe rack. v

In view of the length of a thribble of pipeA (namely threepipe sections of approximately thirty feet each in length) it would be rather difficult to hold the pipe suspended from the head |32 against swaying movement and also to center the lower end with the central hole in the table housing and the mechanisms mounted thereon. I therefore provide a swingingly mounted larm Figure 1. Arm 23* is hingedly connected at |43 to a block memberl similar to the block member |21 of the upper arm and previously described; arm IIIYIbeing hingedly connected as just mentioned so it may be swung upwardly out ofthe way. The lower block member is similar in general construction to the block member |21 of the upper arm except that the opening through the` lower block is not threaded and loosely fits on rod v|23 and hence does not travel vertically when rod'l23isrotated. v The upper head |32, on the side disposed vtoward the derrick when the head |32 is swung` inwardly, is also preferably provided with a somewhat U-shape element'i32b (Figure 15) provided 4 with serrations 'or teeth andimay beused when adding or taking out a single joint of drill pipe;

the-device holdsthe single joint in place for at-V Y Ytachineni; to the threaded end 51 ofthe swivel l connection and isvswungl away when thejointis in proper position.

'I'he lower arm |235. has va pair ofy hook-like gripping nngers |44 pivotally mounted on the outer end and these fingers are held in open position by a suitable spring |45 secured to a lug or projection on the arm |26'. l Mounted on the arm |26' is a fluid operated cylinder |46 (pressure fluid being introduced by tube |41) whose piston |43 has a pair of,links |43 pivotallyV connected thereto while the outer ends of the links are pivotally connected to the-fingers |44. The spring |45 not only separates the lingers |44 into the open position shown in Figure l3 but also retracts the piston |43, after the pressure medium in cylinder |45 has been spent. With the noncircular rod |23 extending through the upper arm holding block |21 and the lower arm holding block |21,

through hose |34 into the cylinder portion |32' of the head |32, thereby forcing member |35 downwardly until the extended lower endsv of the lingers |36 engage the lcamA surface |33 which causes the extended lower ends .of the fingers to move inwardly'or toward each other and vforces the uper ends yof the lingers outwardly or out of holding relation with the upper end of the suspended pipe section. It -willbe understood that thehead |32 isbroughtV down into contact with the upper end of a pipe section by rotating screwrod |23 invproper direction andafter the pipe sectionhas been positioned the head |32- is ele-v vated above the pipe section .by turning screwis loosely mounted' in headf|32 sothat member ns may rotate with the siispenueapipe while the latter is beingfscrewdontoor vofi? a lower pipe rod |23 in the opposite. direction.v Member |35 v 4hermitthemoiith'of theheadandfmember |35 `to'b'epro'perly alignedor positionedto receive the end of a` pipe raised from 7s it is evident that the two arms'will be simultaneously positioned and in vertical alignment, so

that when apipe'section is to be introduced or lifted out of the way bythe lifting head |32, heretofore described, the lower arm |23* .will be in position whereits lingers |44 can encircle the lower end of the pipesection upon admittingpressure fluid .to cylinder |43, forcing its piston outwardly, causing the fingers to close about the pipe section. jArm |23* is substantially of the f same length as the upper arm 26 and'both have a-common axis and consequently the pipesection" will be held in a vertical plane and in alignment I with the hole inthe table housing andthe pipe slip, mechanism mounted thereon. `As block |21* of the lower arm has a smooth non-threaded connection with the lower end of rod |23, the

lower arm does not move up or down when screwrod |23 is rotated to adjust thehorizotal plane Y l oi'v the upper arm |23. f In view' of the height of the derrick and to faciiitacefiis shifting or handling, the derrickiisv` preferably :nadeln sections` and the sections*vv hingedly Vconnected together; the -lowerjsection being vprovided with Ythe. table housing'and 'lift cylinders the` upper section provided with 'f |23* adjacent the lower end of the derrick, see

the traveling crane and upper pipe positioning mechanism.

'I'he two sections are shown hingedly connected at the rear side of the derrick as shown at |50 which allows the two sections to fold into parallel relation.

The lower section of the derrick adjacent its upper end is shown provided with a pair of hydraulic cylinders or jacks |,5|, see Figure 1, secured on the rear legs 30'1 of the lower section;

the jacks being operated by a uid under pressureV received by means of a pump from a sultab source of supply.

In order to hold the table housing 3| and its various attachments at any desired point against vertical movement in the event of an emergency, such as leaks or accidents, I provide braking mechanism operable from the table housing and consisting of a brake band |52 provided with a suitable fibre lining |53; the band being'located within the outer shell 31 to which one end of the split brake band |52 is immovably secured as shown at |54 in Figure 11, while the other end of the band is controlled by a pawl |55 disposed laterally from the rotatable brake rod |56 and extending through a slot in the outer shell 31. The brake mechanism is preferably applied to the two large compression cylinders, the one being at the left and toward the rear of the derrick, while the other is at the right and toward the front of the derrick, as viewed in Figures 3 and 5. The invention permits the use of a derrick of less height; with the weight of the traveling table housing, its appurtenances and the respective pipe sections being carried by hydraulic cylinders preferably of dierent sizes to take care of diierences in load; and wherein the respective pipe sections are properly positioned for attachment to the drill pipe. After the initial pipe section with attached drilling tool has been driven substantially to the limit of its depth and a single pipe section is to be added, the pipe positioning mechanism |32 is lowered to receive the end of the pipesection in the U-shape element |32b; the mechanism |32 is then elevated, through actuation of means heretofore described, so as to suspend the pipe section therefrom, at which time the lower arm |26a and its gripping fingersv engage the lower end of the pipe section; the two arms being then `swung inwardly toward the center of the derrick beneath the elevated table housing where the lower end of the pipe section will be held in position to screw into the upper end of the drill pipe and the upper end of the pipe section positioned to receive swivel connection 51.' wrench mechanism, is then screwed onto the threaded portion 51e; the table housing then lowered and the lower end of the added pipe section screwed into the drill pipe and the drilling operation resumed, at which time arm |26 and larm |26e are swung out of the way.

In instances where theentire drill stem is to be removed (for example to change the bit), the wrench mechanism breaks the drill stem fromv its connection with the swivel connection; said connection is removed and the slip mechanism (Figure 13) is substituted therefor in the rotor of the table housing; the table housing is then lowered suciently for the slips to engage the pipe (the load up to that time being carried by .the lower set of slips at the bottom of the derrick) and after being placed in gripping position, the housing is then lifted by means of the hydraulic cylinders to its maximum elevation, at which time the lower slips are again brought into gripping position; the table housing is then lowered to the bottom in order that the set of slips carried by the table housing may engage the drill stem and is raised again to a point high enough .to break out a thribble with the wrench mechanism. After the drill pipe joint is broken (the upper end of the thribble being held by the dome-shaped head |32) the wrench mechanism is lowered and the table housing with its set of slips is also lowered to permit the slips to again hold the drill pipe. As soon as the table housing passes beneath the joint that has been broken, then arm |26i is attached to the lower end of the thribble and the thribble'is then swung outwardly where the traveling crane mechanism can engage the upper end of the thribble, at which time the grip of mechanism |32 is released and mechanism |32 is raised out of the way; the thribble then carried bythe crane mechanism and placed in the racks shown in Figure l15. i

When the pipe is to be replaced, the operations asset forth are reversed.

During drilling operation, the weight of the drill pipe is carried by the pressure fluid in the cylinders. which pressure is set to maintain the desired amount of weightk on the bit; it being understood, of course, that the derrick is suitably anchored in place by proper guy rods or wires, as indicated in Figure 1.

'I'he particular embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings may be modified in certain respects without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention as dened in the appended claims. f

What I claim is:

1. .A rotary drilling rig of the character described comprising a derrick composed of a plu- The pipe section, by means of the rality of vertically disposed uprights arranged in substantially semi-circular spaced relation and secured together by a plurality of vertically spaced tie-members, vertically disposed hydraulic cylinders arranged at opposite sides within the derrick and each provided with a piston; vertically arranged cylinder extensions at the upper ends of the cylinders; a plunger connected to each piston and slidable in each cylinder and cylinder extension; tubular sleeve members slidable on the cylinders and said cylinder extensions with their upper ends secured to said plungers; a rotor carrying table housing provided with a pipe receiving opening therethrough, said housing being secured to the lower ends of the'tubular sleeves so as to travel vertically therewith; a swivel connection removably seated in the table housing opening in operative relation with the rotor so as to rotate therewith, the lower end of said swivel connection being adapted to effect v operative relation with the drill pipe therebeneath; a fluid supply line for the swivel connection; a source of power medium supply for saidrotor; and a pressure medium supply for said cylinders.

2. A rotary drilling rig of thecharacter del controlled; a rotor carrying table housing with a pipe receiving opening movablevertically in the lower derrick section; vertically disposed hydraulic cylinders with reciprocable pistons in the ing concentric with said opening; a swivel connection adapted to seat in said opening to be rotated by said rotor and to effect operative relation with the end of a pipe beneath the housing: a iluid supply forv operating said rotor; and means whereby said table housing is made to travel vertically in the derrick.`

4. In a rotary drilling rig of the character described, a derrick provided with a vertically m ovable table housing having a pipe receiving opening disposed vertically therethrough; hydraulically operated rotor mounted in said table housing; a swivel-head disposed through said opening. the lower end of said head being adapted to screw into the upper end of the drill pipe therebeneath;

means whereby operative relation between the rotor and said swivel 'head is eilected and the latter with the attached drill pipe rotated; and

. vmeans whereby the table housing may be moved vertically.

' 5. A rotary drilling rig of the character described comprising a derrickprovided with a vertically movable table housing having a pipe receiving opening disposed vertically therethrough; an hydraulically operated rotor mounted in the table housing cocentrically with said opening;

a swivel headdisposed vertically through said opening and lthrough said rotor, with its lower end adapted to effect controlling engagement .with the upper'end of a vertically disposed pipe sectionthereb'eneath; means whereby a driving ,relation between said rotor and said swivel head may be eiected and the weight oi the depending pipe supported by the table housing through the medium of said rotor; means whereby the table lhousing may bev Amoved vertically; and brake mechanism operatively intermediate oi the table housing and said means whereby the table housingmay be held against downward movement.

6,. In a rotary drilling rig,v a derrick provided with 'aplurality of vertically arranged cylinders and pistons arranged atopposite sides within the tween the cylindersat opposite sides of the derrick; means operatively intermediate the table -nensmgand the pistons whereby the teme neusing is made to travel with the pistons; counterbalancing cylindersand pistons at opposite sides of the table housing with their pistons operativepressure medium supply for said 'coumterbalancing cylinders.

asizsoc c. Y

adapted te be sented-in the central opening 1n the rotor, said connection involving a non-circu- .lar ,top portion with a cone-shaped depending Y through the medium oi said ,swivel connection.

vshape, tie-plates for securing the uprights together and with a pluralityof vertically arranged cylinders oi different lcapacities having reciprocable pistons; cylinder extensions securedto the upper ends oi the cylinders; tie means between "the lcylmeler extensions and said tie-plates whereby the extensions are held against movement, the inner sides of the cylinder extensions being longitudinally slotted; combined pistons and plungers slidable inthe cylinders and cylin- Ader extensions; tubular sleeve members slidably disposed about the cylinders and cylinder extensions and provided with longitudinal slots on their outer sides for passage oi th` tie means between the cylinder extensions and the tie plates;

tie means secured toVL said plungers, disposed der extensions. and secured tosaid sleeve members; a rotor carrying table-housing secured to vthe lower endsoi said tubular sleeve members to 4-travel vertically therewith; a controllable pres- 35 'sure medium supplyconnectedwlth said cylinders for controlling .the elevation vof said table housing; and a pair of conduits connected with the-table housing for conveying a pressure fluid medium whereby the rotor is actuated. y

9. In a rotary Adrilling rig of the character described. a ,derrickI provided with a vertically movable rotor'carrying table housing with a pipe receiving opening; a plurality oi' vertically disposed hydraulically operated cylinders arranged at opposite sides ot said table housing andl pro- -vided at their upper ends with longitudinally slotted cylinderl extensions and having reciprocylinder extensions, with their lpwer ends se'- dured tothe table housing; tie means disposed f through the slots in the sleeves whereby the cylinder vextensions are immovably secured to the derrick; tie means'disposed through the slots in derriclr, withcylinders 'at each side varying in j# alle: a. rotor carrying table housing disposed bethe cylinder extensions. whereby the sleeves are operatively secured to the pistons andv made to travel therewith; a pressure'medium supply conn ected. with Vthe lower ends of said cylinders;'a

7..,In" a rotary drilling rigcomprising a' der- 'rick with a 'vertically movable table.l housing; a

into the drill'v pipe beneath the table housingand r ttatable rod disposed throughout the .pathv o! travel of said table housing and having operative e connection with the"va,1vesv in the pressure medium supply lines oijthe respective cylinders; means carried by the table housing andfoperativelyassociated with saidrod whereby the rod is vrotated whenythe table housing reaches predetermined points in its `upward and downward travel'and the 'ilowVV of pressure medium to the cylinders is`automatically controlled; and a pair 'oi conduits connected with the table housing medium is delivered to the the drill pipe 'ls rotated 

